Collects, Epistles, and
Gospels
for Christmastide.

O ALMIGHTY God, who out of the mouths of babes and sucklings
hast ordained strength, and madest infants to glorify thee by
their deaths; Mortify and kill all vices in us, and so strengthen
us by thy grace, that by the innocency of our lives, and constancy
of our faith even unto death, we may glorify thy holy Name; through
Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

For the Epistle. Revelation xiv. 1.

I LOOKED, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Sion, and with
him an hundred forty and four thousand, having his Father's name
written in their foreheads. And I heard a voice from heaven,
as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of a great thunder:
and I heard the voice of harpers harping with their harps: and
they sung as it were a new song before the throne, and before
the four living creatures, and the elders: and no man could learn
that song but the hundred and forty and four thousand, which
were redeemed from the earth. These are they which were not defiled
with women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow
the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were redeemed from among
men, being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb. And in their
mouth was found no guile: for they are without fault before the
throne of God.

The Gospel. St. Matthew ii. 13.

THE angel of the Lord appeareth to Joseph in a dream, saying,
Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and flee into
Egypt, and be thou there until I bring thee word: for Herod will
seek the young child to destroy him. When he arose, he took the
young child and his mother by night, and departed into Egypt:
and was there until the death of Herod: that it might be fulfilled
which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Out of Egypt
have I called my son. Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked
of the wise men, was exceeding wroth, and sent forth, and slew
all the children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the coasts
thereof, from two years old and under, according to the time
which he had diligently enquired of the wise men. Then was fulfilled
that which was spoken by Jeremy the prophet, saying, In Rama
was there a voice heard, lamentation, and weeping, and great
mourning, Rachel weeping for her children, and would not be comforted,
because they are not.

¶ If there be any more days before the Sunday following
Christmas Day. the first Epistle and Gospel for Christmas Day
shall serve for them.